From the suburbs of Washington D.C. to conservative media circles, dissatisfaction is growing over President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, soaring prices, and controversial decisions — driving his approval ratings to some of the lowest levels of his second term.
Upon arriving in Arlington, Virginia, my host — a World Bank employee — immediately complained about skyrocketing living costs and gas prices. Both she and her husband, also working at the international financial institution, expressed deep frustration with the current administration’s policies.
The ongoing conflict with Iran has triggered a global spike in energy prices. Jet fuel costs have more than doubled since the escalation began on February 28, pushing up airfares by about 35% compared to last year on the same route. Even in the U.S., with its high domestic energy production, regular gasoline prices have jumped nearly 30%.
A Fox News poll released on April 22 — from a network traditionally supportive of Trump — delivered particularly harsh numbers. Conducted April 17–20, it found that 56% of Americans believe President Trump is doing a poor job running the country. That figure is worse than Joe Biden’s low point (52% in September 2022) and Barack Obama’s (53% in May 2015). Only 43% approved of his overall performance.
Breaking it down, Trump received strongly negative marks on immigration (46% approve, 54% disapprove), China policy (42-57), foreign policy (40-60), Iran (37-63), the economy (34-66), government spending (33-67), and inflation (28-72). The only area with majority support was border security (53-47).
Even some of Trump’s once-loyal supporters are now turning against him. On April 21, longtime ally and influential MAGA voice Tucker Carlson publicly apologized for helping elect Trump to a second term, calling the Iran war “completely evil” and expressing regret over his role in the movement. Carlson and his brother have also raised questions about the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump.
Other prominent former allies have followed suit. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized for contributing to “toxic politics,” while Candace Owens admitted feeling “ashamed” of her past support, especially regarding the Iran conflict. Radio host Alex Jones, along with Greene and Owens, has even called for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump.
Within the Republican Party, loyalty is fading. A CNN poll from March 2025 showed 92% GOP support with 64% strongly approving. By March this year, those numbers had dropped to 80% overall support and just 43% strongly approving.
Of course, Trump still retains a passionate base. One prominent Virginia lawyer I spoke with praised the president effusively, pulling up articles to defend him and dismissing critical coverage as “fake news.”
As inflation bites, foreign conflicts drag on, and key voices within his own movement voice regret, President Trump finds himself navigating one of the most challenging political environments of his career — even as a deeply polarized America remains split between fervent supporters and growing numbers of disillusioned voters.